Hatch loading transit concrete mixing drum



Jan. 17, 1956 J. F. oURY 2,731,249

HATCH LOADING TRANSIT CONCRETE MIXING DRUM Filed Sept. 26, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 17, 1956 J. F. oURY 2,731,249

HATCH LOADING TRANSIT CONCRETE MIXING DRUM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 26, 195,1

Jan. 17, 1956 .1. F. ouRY 2,731,249

HATCH LOADING TRANSIT CONCRETE MTXTNC DRUM Filed Sept. 26, L951 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 TARN-j Jj @LW/A 74W lit .ANNI M67 Jan. 17, 1956 J. F. OURY 2,731,249

HATCH LOADING TRANSIT CONCRETE MIXING DRUM Filed Sept. 26, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 e@ Z @MW y TM5' United States Patent O HATCH LOADING TRANSIT CGNCRETE MIXING DRUM John Foster Oury, Du Page County, Ill., assigner to Qury Engineering Company, Wheaton, Ill., a copartnership Application September 26, `1951, Serial No. 248,397

Ztl Claims. (Cl. 25g- 161) My invention relates to a transit type concrete mixing drum and has particular reference to a transit mix type drum having a loading hatch intermediate the ends of the drum through which the mix is loaded, and having closure means fixed into the open end of drum as a part thereof which provides for an open discharge end of the mixing drum and retaining means therein which retains the concrete mix in the drum during the transit and mixing operations and which, upon reversal of the travel of the drum, the concrete mix is forced therefrom into the usual gathering chute, where the concrete is conveyed by gravity to a point of use for a foundation, sidewalk, flooring or the like.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of a rear end construction for a transit concrete mixing drum in which the usual closure doors are eliminated and the concrete retaining parts remain in lixed relation, thereby preventing the flowing of the concrete mix from the open end of the drum during the mixing operation and also the transporting thereof and while the mix is being loaded into the drum through the loading n hatch, but upon the drum being rotated in the proper direction the concrete mixture is discharged therefrom.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of a concrete mixing drum in which both the loading of the drum through the central hatch and the discharge therefrom is facilitated thereby resulting in a saving of time of both the loading and the discharge operations.

Another and further object of the invention is the provision of the discharge mechanism for a drum in which the concrete mixture is discharged in a substantially steady flow thereby allowing for the proper distribution of the mixture in a floor, roadway or into forms connected with the building of basements, foundations and the like.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of a transit mixer drum having a somewhat larger capacity for mixture than what has been heretofore possible with the same types of drums inasmuch as the retaining means in the drum allows the drum to be filled to a greater extent with the concrete mixture, and by making the drum slightly larger in diameter at the large end thereof the capacity of the drum is increased by approximately one-third so that a larger pay load can be transported, thereby reducing the delivered cost of the concrete mix to a material extent.

These and other objects of my invention will be more fully and better understood by reference to the, accompartying sheets of drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view partially in section and partially an elevation on the lines 1-1 of Figure 5;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 on lines 2-2 of Figure Figure 3 is a view partially in section and partiallyan elevation on lines 3-3 of Figure 5;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal view similar to section 3 on lines 4--4 of Figure 5; and

Fwice Figure 5 is a horizontal view of the rear end of a mixing drum embodying my invention.

Referring now specifically to the drawings in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, a con` crete rotatable mixing drum 10 is shown with a cylindrical portion at its forward end and tapered toward its rear end with circular side walls, a curved closed end member 11 and a ring 12 at the rear open end of the drum lil with a plate 13 being welded or otherwise secured to the end 11 of the drum, within which a shaft 14 is mounted, which, in turn, is mounted in a bearing 15, secured upon a pillow block 16 with a sprocket wheel 17 being provided over which a sprocket chain 18 operates, which, in turn, is connected with a smaller sprocket i9 mounted upon a shaft 2l) which leads to a power operating mechanism such as shown and described in my co-pending application, Serial No. 218,981, tiled April 3, 1951, now Patent No. 2,676,003, dated April 20, 1954, but which forms no part of the present invention. The pillow block 16 is mounted upon sills 21 and 22 adapted to rest upon the frame of a truck chassis, and the said sills 21 and 22 having braces 23 and 24 at the rear ends thereof with angular braces 25, 25 being provided with brackets 26, 26 mounted on the upper ends of the braces 23 and 24, respectively, with rollers 27, 27 being provided for engagement with a circumferential track 28 secured to the body of the drum and which serves y,to

upport the drum upon a truck chassis in a mannercommon to the mounting of these drums upon truck chassis, the sills 2l and 22 being at one side of the chassis, While the sill 22 and the brace 2li are at the opposite `side of the truck chassis so that the drum is supported between the two rollers 27, 27 in somewhat of a cradle fashion.

Interior of the drum is a plurality of spirally-extending blades 29 and 3@ in the form of a double Archimedes screw, these blades being Welded or otherwise secured to the wall of the drum lil at the inner side thereof with the blades 29 and 30 commencing adjacent the ring 12 at the open end of the drum and at points apart from each other and terminating adjacent the forward end of the drum, with the ends in register with each other, with the blade 29 making approximately two and one-half turns inside of the drum l() while the blade 3l) extends approximately two complete turns inside of the drum 1l), thereby providing a termination of these plates in register with each other near the forward end of the drum.

A plate 31 is mounted along its marginal edges to the edges of the blades 29 and 30 by being welded thereto, or by any suitable means, and spans the spaces forwardly of the blade 3d and rearwardly of the blade 29 in a spiral direction, the forward end of the plate 31 being in register with the front ends of each of the blades 29 and 30 and extends rearwardly therefrom for approximately one and a half turns of the drum thereby creating a tunnel 32, one end of which tunnel 32 is intermediate the ends of the drum and the other end is adjacent the forward end thereof, the said tunnel 32 corresponding in length to a distance of approximately one and one half the-inner circumference of the drum. An open channel 33 is provided which extends approximately one and one quarter turn in a spiral direction around the inner periphery of the drum 10, and includes the space between the front face of the blade 29 and the rear face of the blade 30. An opening or hatch 34 is provided in the side wall of the drum 1t?, within which a closure member 35 is normally mounted which rests upon an annular flange 36 and is locked in position by a plurality of bolts 37, 37 mounted in a member 38 secured to the cover 35 in any approved manner having a toggle connection with the bolts 37, 37 operated by a handle 33, the outer ends of the bolts 37, 37 being fitted into openings in lugs 40, 4l) secured to the wall of the drum 1t) which holds the cover 35 in place during the transit period and the discharge period when the drum is rotating and seals the drum in whatever position it may be in. A. cone 4i is mounted in the space at the rear or discharge end of the drum iti, the cone 4l being closed at its rear end and has a circular baffle 42 therein towards its forward end which prevents the concrete mix from iilling the cone 41. The cone 41 has a pair of arcuate extensions i3 and i4 at the forward end thereof. The extension 43 being secured at its end to the blade 29 and has an edge portion 45 at the entrance of a spiral discharge tunnel 46 formed by the cone d1, extensions 43 and blades 29 and 3d, The forward edge 47 of the extension 44 is secured to the blade 30 with an edge portion 43, the extension 44 and cone 41 forming a discharge tunnel i9 which commences at the rear end of the passage 33 and continues to the discharge end of the drum 10, and with the tunnel 46 forms passages through which the concrete mix is discharged from the end of the drum 16 into the usual gathering chute when the drum 10 is rotated in the `proper direction to force the mix towards the discharge end of the drum. The walls of the cone 41 and the extensions 43 and d4 diverge from the center line of the cone 4.1 at a greater angle than does the walls of the drum it) at its rear end towards its forward end while the blades 29 and 3@ at their rear positions are slightly higher than they are throughout the major part of their length in the main body of the drum 10, and decrease in width towards the forward end of the cone 41, the tunnels 4.16 and i9 being of sufficient Varea so the mix is discharged fairly quickly, while the cone 41 and rear portions of the blades 29 and 3i) which extend around the periphery of the drum at least 180 form a closure for the open end of the drum it) so the mix will not normally spill out of the open end of the drum even through the level of the mix is substantially even with the top of the cone 41 at its .forward end.

rhe walls of cone di may, however, be made parallel with 'the walls of drum 10 or even made to diverge from the center line at a lesser angle than the walls of drum lil, which in specific applications, might be advantageous resulting in a smaller proportionate payload but in a faster discharge rate.

In operation a truck on which a drum 10 is mounted is positioned under a loading chute with the drum 10 rotated so the opening or hatch 34 is at the top of the drum 1i), the closure member 35 .removed and partially mixed concrete is directed into 'the drum i@ until the drum is substantially filled. The main part of the mixture will flow into the forward end ofthe drum but a substantial quantity will flow toward 'the rear end and against the baie 42 and into the entrance of the discharge tunnel i6 and also under the edge of the extension on the cone 41 intothe entrance of the vdischarge tunnel A59. However the -drum l'tl can be 'substantially lled very quickly, the hatch 34 Lclosed and the truck started on its delivery journey. With the starting of the truck, the operator through the power transmission apparatus common to these transit mixers starts the 'rotation of 'the drum 10 in a clockwise direction as viewed from the rear of the drum and the material is .given a combined tumbling and pushing movement toward the forward end of the drum 10 with a quantity 'of material towards the rear of the drum picked up in the tunnel 32, and moved in the direction of the dottedl line to the lower forward end of the drum ll-tl where it is discharged into the material at this end, creating a hydrostatic head in the forward end of the drum which causes the material to travel rearward centrally of the drum 10 where it will again venter the tunnel 32 and be conveyed to the forward end of the drum. This process is repeated until the 'contents are thoroughly tumbled and mixed as much as may be desired with the baffle 42, the cone 41, andthe blades 29 and '30 serving to retain thelading in the drum l@ and prevent it from spilling lout the open end of the drum 1'0.

The arrangement and position of the bafe Zand cone 41 have been shown and described in what appears to be their most practical arrangement. However, it should be pointed out that the position of baie 42 can be modiiied or even eliminated completely without affecting the functional eciency of the invention, except the minor consideration of keeping the inside of the cone clean. Also, the rear of the cone il could be left open without affecting the efficiency of the invented structure. it may be a sharp pointed cone or a truncated cone if desired.

When the operator desires to discharge the lading in the drum it), the rotary movement is reversed to a counterclockwise direction and the material is moved by the blades 29 and 3d) toward the rear or discharge end of the drum where the material is picked up by the rotation at the entrance of each of the discharge tunnels 46 and di) as indicated by the dotted lines in said tunnels and is moved rearward towards the open end of the drum 10 where the material is discharged in substantially steady stream into a gathering chute and conveyed therefrom if desired in the usual chute or spout to the point of final use if a foundation, roadway, sidewalk, oor or the like is being poured.

It will be understood that the arrangement of the tunnel 32 and open channel 33 may be modified or changed and that l do not wish to be understood as limiting myself in my invention to precise form of mixing arrangement shown but the arrangement of blades may be changed insofar as the mixing elements are concerned so long as these elements move the material into the drum where the material can be picked up by the discharge tunnels and moved out of the discharge end of the drum.

While I have described more or less precisely the details of construction, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto. as I contemplate changes in form and the proportion of parts and the substitution of equivalents as circumstances may suggest or render expedient without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention.

In the claims:

l. An open ended concrete mixing drum having a plurality of spirally positioned blades interior of the said drum extending substantially the length of the drum secured to the side wall thereof and a closure member secured to the edges of the blades along their edges for a short distance at the open end of the said drum whereby the central opening between the edges of the blades is closed and channels are formed about the outer surface of the said closure member.

2. An open ended concrete mixing drum having a plurality of spirally positioned blades interior of the said drum extending substantially the length of the drum secured to the side wall thereof and a closure member secured to the edges of the blades along their edges for a short distance at the open end of the said drum whereby the central opening between the edges of the blades is closed and channels 'are formed about the outer surface of the said closure member, the said closure member being adjacent the `open end of the drurn.

3. An open ended concrete mixing drum having a plurality of spirally positioned blades interior of the said drum extending substantially the length of the drum secured to the side wall thereof, the said spiral blades being wider at their portions adjacent the open end of the drum than they are throughout the balance of their length and a closure member secured to the edges of the blades along their edges for a short distance at the open end of the said drum whereby the central opening between the edges of the blades is closed and channels are formed about the outer surface of said closure member.

4. A concrete mixing drum open at one of its ends and substantially circular in cross section form throughout its .length and having 'diverging walls toward -its forward end, closed at its'forward end and open at its rear' end, a 'closure `member 'for the Asaid hatch removably secured to the drum, a plurality of blades securedfto 'fthe walls of the drum on the interior thereof extending in a spiral direction from the open end of the drum towards the front end thereof and a closure member secured to the edges of the said blades for a short distance at the open end of the drum whereby closed channels are formed about the outer surface of the closure member, the angularity of the walls of closure member being greater than the diverging walls of the drum at the rear end thereof.

5. A concrete mixing drum substantially circular in cross section form throughout its length and having diverging walls toward its forward end, and having a closed forward end and an open rear discharge end, a plurality of blades wider at their rear ends than they are throughout the major portion of their length secured to the walls of the drum on the interior thereof extending in a spiral direction from the open rear end of the drum towards the closed front end thereof and a closure member secured to the edges of the said blades for a short distance adjacent the discharge end of the drum, the angularity of the walls of closure member being greater than the diverging walls of the drum at the rear endA thereof whereby discharge passages are formed around the closure member increasing in cross sectional area towards the discharge end of the drum.

6. A concrete mixing drum substantially circular in cross section form throughout its length and having diverging walls toward its forward end, the said drum having a closed forward end and an open rear end, a plnrality of blades wider at their rear ends than they are throughout the major portion of their length secured to the walls of the drum on the interior thereof extending in a spiral direction from the open end of the drum towards the closed end thereof, a cover plate connected to the edges of said blades for a portion of their distance and spanning the space between the said blades whereby tunnels are formed in said drum, and a closure member secured to the edges of the said blades having its small end towards the open end of the drum, the angularity of the walls of closure member being greater than the diverging walls of the drum at the rear end thereof whereby discharge passages are formed around the closure member, the said discharge passages being of substantially the same area as the tunnels intermediate the ends of the drum.

7. A concrete mixing drum having a fixed closure member at one of its ends and open at its opposite end, a plurality of spirally positioned blades interior of the said drum extending substantially the length of the drum secured to the side wall thereof and a closure member secured to the edges of the blades along their edges for f a short distance at the open end of the said drum whereby the central opening between the edges of the blades is closed and channels are formed about the outer surface of the said closure member, the said closure member having circumferentially spaced forwardly projecting extensions thereon, the ends of which extensions are secured to the edges of the said blades.

8. A concrete mixing drum having a fixed closure member at one of its ends and open at its opposite end, a plurality of spirally positioned blades interior of the said drum extending substantially the length of the drum secured to the side wall thereof and a closure member secured to the edges of the blades along their edges for a short distance at the open end of the said drum whereby the central opening between the edges of the blades is closed and channels are formed about the outer surface of the said closure member, the said closure member having circumferentially spaced forwardly projecting extenn said drum extending substantially the length of the drum secured to the side wall thereof, a closure member secured to the edges of the blades along their edges for a short distance at the open end of the said drum whereby the central opening between the edges of the blades is closed and channels are formed about the outer surface of the said closure member and a bafe in said closure member extending transversely thereof.

l0. A concrete mixing drum having a charging hatch in the side wall thereof intermediate its ends, a removable closure member mounted in said hatch, the said drum having a fixed closure member at one of its ends and open at its opposite end, a plurality of spirally positioned blades interior of the said drum extending substantially the length of the drum secured to the side wall thereof, a cone shaped closure member secured to the edges of the blades along their edges for a short distance at the open end of the said drum whereby the central opening between the edges of the blades is closed and channels are formed about the outer surface of the said cone and a baffle in said cone extending transversely thereof, the said baie being positioned intermediate the ends of the cone.

ll. A concrete mixing drum having a charging hatch in the side wall thereof intermediate its ends, a removable closure member mounted in said hatch, the said drum having a fixed closure member at one of its ends and open at its opposite end, a plurality of spirally positioned blades interior of the said drum extending substantially the length of the drum secured to the side wall thereof, a cone shaped closure member secured to the edges of the blades along their edges for a short distance at the open end of the said drum whereby the central opening between the edges of the blades is closed and channels are formed about the outer surface of the said cone, and a battle in said cone extending transversely thereof, the said bafe being positioned intermediate the ends of the cone and adjacent the base portions of the said extensions.

12. A concrete mixing drum having a fixed closure member at one of its ends and open at its opposite end, a plurality of spirally positioned blades interior of the said drum extending substantially the length of the drum secured to the side wall thereof, a closure member secured to the edges of the blades along their edges for a short distance at the open end of the said drum whereby the central opening between the edges of the blades is closed and channels are formed about the outer surface of the said closure member and a cover secured to the free edges of adjacent blades and spanning the space therebetween whereby a spiral tunnel is formed in the said drum throughout a portion of its length.

13. A concrete mixing drum having a charging hatch in the side wall thereof intermediate its ends, a removable closure member mounted in said hatch, the said drum having a fixed closure member at one of its ends and openat its opposite end, a plurality of spirally positioned blades interior of the said drum extending substantially the length of the drum secured to the side wall thereof, a cone shaped closure member secured to the edges of the blades along their edges for a short distance at the open end of the said drum whereby the central opening between the edges of the blades is closed and discharge channels are formed about the outer surface of the said cone and a cover secured to the adjacent blades and spanning the space therebetween whereby a spiral tunnel is formed in the said drum throughout a portion of its length, the rear end of the said tunnel being spaced from one of the discharge tunnels formed by the said cone and the spiral blades.

14. A concrete mixing drum having a charging hatch in the side wall thereof intermediate its ends, a removable closure member mounted in said hatch, the said drum having a fixed closure member at one of its ends and open at its opposite end, a plurality of spirally positioned blades interior of the said drum extending substantially the length of the drum secured to the side wall thereof, a cone shaped closure member secured to the edges of the blades along their edges for a short distance at the open end of the said drum whereby the central opening between the edges of the blades is closed and channels are formed about the outer surface of the said cone and a cover secured to the adjacent blades and spanning the space therebetween whereby a spiral tunnel is formed in the said drum throughout a portion of its length, the open end of the said tunnel being adjacent the cone shaped closure member spaced from one of the discharge tunnels formed by the said cone and the spiral blades and the forward end of the said tunnel being adjacent the forward end of the said drum.

15. A concrete mixing drum having a charging hatch in the side wall thereof intermediate its ends, a removable closure member mounted in said hatch, the said drum having a fixed closure member at one of `its ends and open at its opposite end, a plurality of spirally positioned blades interior of the said drum extending substantially the length of the drum secured to the side wall thereof, a cone shaped closure member secured to the edges of the blades along their edges for a short distance at the open end of the said drum whereby the central opening between the edges of the blades is closed and channels are formed about the outer surface of the said cone and a cover secured to the adjacent blades and spanning the space therebetween whereby a spiral tunnel is formed in the said drum throughout a portion of its length, the rear end of the said tunnel being spaced approximately 270 circumferentially from the receiving end of one of the discharge tunnels formed by the said cone and the said spiral blades.

16. A concrete mixing drum having a charging hatch in the side wall thereof intermediate its ends, a removable closure member mounted in said hatch, the said drum having a fixed closure member at one of its ends and open at its opposite end, a plurality of spirally positioned blades interior of the said drum extending substantially the length of the drum secured to the side wall thereof, a truncated cone closure member secured to the edges of the blades along their edges adjacent the open end of the drum whereby the central opening interior of the edges of the blades is closed and discharge channels formed therearound, and a baille in said cone.

17. A concrete mixing drum having a charging hatch in the side wall thereof intermediate its ends, a removable closure member mounted in said hatch, the said drum having a xed closure member at one of its ends and open at its opposite end, a plurality of spirally positioned blades interior of the said drum extending substantially the length of the drum secured to the side wall thereof, a truncated cone closure member secured to the edges of the blades along their edges adjacent the open end of the drum whereby the central opening interior of the edges of the blades is closed and discharge channels formed, therearound, and a baffle in said cone, the wall of the said cone being substantially parallel with the walls of the drum.

18. A concrete mixing drum having a charging hatch in the side wall thereof intermediate its ends, a removable closure member mounted in said hatch, the said drum having a fixed closure member at one of its ends and open at its opposite end. a plurality of spirally positioned blades interior of the said drum extending substantially the length of the drum secured to the side wall thereof, a truncated cone closure member secured to the edges of the blades along their edges adjacent the open end of the drum whereby the central opening interior of the edges of the blades is closed and discharge channels formed therearound, and a balfle in said cone, the wall of the cone being at a lesser angle to the axis of the drum than is the walls of the drum.

19. A high capacity drum for truck-type mixers and the like comprising an open-ended drum, a plurality of blades on the interior of the drum arranged in spiral fashion and extending from one end of the drum to the other, a member cooperating with the blades adjacent the open end of the drum to define spiral tunnels about the exterior of the member between the blades and the inside of the drum, said tunnels being of a sufficient length to prevent flow of concrete from the drum through the tunnels when the drumis at rest or when the drum is rotating in the direction in which the spiral blades tend to move the material forwardly in the drum, the tunnels aiording a means of egress of material from the drum when the drum is rotated in the direction in which the blades feed the concrete from the drum toward the open end of the drum, and means cooperating with said member for preventing egress of concrete through the center of said member and thereby limiting egress from the drum to the spiral tunnels.

20. A high capacity drum for truck-type mixers and the like comprising a drum having an open rear end, means within the drum for moving the drum contents forwardly when the drum is rotated in one direction and for moving the drum contents rearwardly when the drum is r0- tated in the opposite direction, means in the proximity of the rear end of the drum for defining a plurality of spiral tunnels each of which communicates with the drum interior at one end of the tunnel and being open at the References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,045,532 Merwin et al lune 23, 1936 2,338,820 Peters Jan. `11, 1944 2,394,453 Huszar Feb. 5, 1946 2,512,603 Benson lune 27, 1950 2,618,472 Castendyck Nov. 18, 1952 

